WHERE TO WATCH AND LISTEN
– Saturday’s match will stream nationwide on the new ESPN+ app.
– The Spanish-language radio broadcast takes place on ESPN Deportes 1460 AM, and can be streamed live at LVSportsNetwork.com.
As the summer months set in and the USL regular season draws closer to its midway point, there will begin to be some separation in the league’s standings, breaking the middle of the pack up into contenders and pretenders.
If Las Vegas Lights FC hopes to make itself a part of the former group as opposed to the latter, winning matches such as Saturday night’s 7:30 p.m. meeting with LA Galaxy II is paramount.
The two will meet at the StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium in Carson, Calif., in a match streaming nationwide on the new ESPN+ app.
Though still technically early in the season, both Lights FC (2-3-4, 10 points) and Galaxy II (1-6-4, 7 points) find themselves in the same position – outside of the Top 8 in the Western Conference and looking in.
“We have to keep close,” Lights FC Head Coach Isidro Sánchez said. “Right now, we are four points away from the playoff spaces. Obviously, we are chasing the 25 (points) of (first place) Real Monarchs, that’s our real goal, but we are four points out of the playoffs. It’s very important, with 25 games left, to maintain or close that gap.
“A good performance is one thing, but the important thing is we need to get points. At the end, if we continue letting go of games or points, there won’t be enough games or points left for us to get to the playoffs. It’s now, now, now.”
Lights FC is aiming to pull a much-needed three points into its favor on the Western Conference table, and the match-up with Galaxy II could be coming at the perfect time to be able to do just that.
In its last league game, Lights FC fell at home last Saturday night to the aforementioned Monarchs, 2-0, but in process put on maybe its most aggressive offensive showing of the season, out-shooting the first place visitors 26-8.
Now, the club faces a Galaxy II squad that ranks last in the USL in goals conceded, having allowed 24 in 11 matches.
On the other end of the pitch, Galaxy II will be without its top offensive force – 15-year-old phenom Efrain Alvarez, who has scored six goals this season. Alvarez was called up this week to the Mexico U-17 National Team’s training camp ahead of tournament competition in the Netherlands next month. Alvarez is the younger brother of Lights FC’s top goal scorer – midfielder Carlos Alvarez.
All things considered, the sense of urgency is high for Lights FC, and a big opportunity is at hand.
“We’ve had some of these games in hand, but now we need to start getting some results,” the elder Alvarez said. ” We need to start building up points, little by little, and we’re capable of doing that.”
After Saturday’s match, Lights FC will return home next Saturday night, June 2, to take on Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (4-6-2, 14 points) at Cashman Field at 8 p.m. Tickets are currently available and start at just $15 at LightsFC.com/SingleTix.
LIGHTS FC NOTES HEADING INTO SATURDAY NIGHT:
WELCOME BACK CHELÍS: After completing his 4-game USL suspension, Technical Director Chelís returned to the sidelines Wednesday night for Lights FC’s third round U.S. Open Cup match. Saturday night, he’ll coach on the sidelines in a USL match for the first time since April 27.
Despite the suspension, Chelís has remained a constant presence for Lights FC, both in training every day and on road trips, and now the players note an expected rise in intensity on the sidelines, which isn’t a bad thing.
“He’s been with us every day, he traveled with us to Colorado, to Salt Lake City,” said defender Miguel Garduño. “If he’s on the bench, it’s more explosive and there’s that energy. For us, as professional players, we need to keep working the same way.”
ALVAREZ KEEPING YOUNGER BROTHER GROUNDED: The possibility of Carlos and Efrain Alvarez squaring off for the first time as professionals will have to wait until Lights FC and Galaxy II meet again in Las Vegas on Saturday, September 8.
Still, Carlos has been in regular contact with his younger brother during Efrain’s red-hot start to his professional career.
“I just tell him to keep focusing on his job, because he’s doing all of the right things,” Carlos Alvarez said. “He needs to keep his foot on the ground, stay grounded. I’m not surprised by what he’s doing. I know what he has and what he’s capable of. I love my brother, so at the end of the day, I’m happy for him.”
ADDITIONS TO THE ATTACK: As Lights FC continues to look for ways to bolster its offensive attack, it will feature two key additions Saturday night. One is veteran midfielder Eric Avila, signed this week before starting and playing a full 90 minutes in U.S. Open Cup action Wednesday night. With a wealth of MLS experience, including having played for Chelís and Isidro Sánchez with Chivas USA in 2013, Avila figures to mesh well within the club’s offensive scheme right away. Also back at full strength is midfielder Juan Jose Calderon, who led the club in scoring in the preseason with three goals against Major League Soccer competition before suffering a lower body injury just before the start of the regular season.
DISCIPLINE UPDATES: Lights FC has three players who have four yellow cards on the season, meaning each is one yellow away from earning a 1-game accumulation suspension. Those three are Carlos Alvarez, goalkeeperRicardo Ferriño and Miguel Garduño.
INJURY UPDATES: With Calderon back in the fold at full strength, the only player currently listed as officially out for Saturday’s match is forward Juan Carlos Garcia, who is still recovering from a lower body injury. Questionable for Saturday night is Miguel Garduño, who exited the U.S. Open Cup match Wednesday night in the 33rd minute with a lower body injury.
WHO TO KNOW FOR LIGHTS FC
Defender Joel Huiqui (#3) has been one of Lights FC’s premier defenders this season, and also a true leader, earning his captaincy. With the potential of his fellow center-back Garduño missing the match due to injury, Huiqui’s leadership could be more important than ever Saturday night. The Mexican National Team and LigaMX veteran is currently second on the team with 45 defensive clearances this season.
Midfielder Carlos Alvarez (#7) continues to do it all in the middle of the field, leading the offensive attack for Lights FC. With three goals and two assists to his credit in USL play, he’s been the team’s top creator and finisher to this point, and could potentially shine against a team that has conceded 24 goals in 11 matches in 2018.
Goalkeeper Ricardo Ferriño (#1) continues to steady his overall play in goal, balancing skill with calculated aggression when charging from the box to make plays and stymie offensive chances. His 30 goalkeeper saves are tied for the fourth-most in the 33-team USL.
